Times staff, wires
Sunday, November 4, 2012

Greg Schiano, Bucs coach:

"I'm really proud of our team. What they did in the last few weeks to get on an airplane for three hours and go up and win in Minnesota on the road and then get on an airplane for six hours and come out here and win in Oakland on the road, that's not easy. They stuck together and worked very hard, and now we move on after we get back."

Doug Martin, Bucs RB, on his progress:

"Coming from college to the NFL, the game, the speed, has definitely increased, and the holes, they close quick now. Just over the first few games and the preseason it took me a while to get comfortable with the offense and for the game to slow down, but over the first four games of the season it started to slow down for me so I could get comfortable."

Josh Freeman, Bucs QB:

"I think the offensive line is doing a tremendous job of holding up; there were a number of plays today when I was sitting back there, they let me see things downfield and I get the ball in Mike (Williams') and Vincent (Jackson)'s hands."

Andre Carter, Raiders DE, on Martin:

"We knew coming into this game that it was important that we gang-tackle him. We did that in the first half but in the second half, whether it was gap responsibility or just inconsistency, we didn't do that, unfortunately. But give credit where credit is due, he is a great back."

Carson Palmer, Raiders QB, on second-half adjustments:

"We only had a handful of runs, we were down so much and they kept scoring so fast that we were kind of in hurry-up mode. We were in situations against, I think, the No. 4 (No. 6, actually) defense against the run and we were going to be kind of smashing our head against the wall."

Dennis Allen, Raiders coach, on the final interception:

"Carson had to get rid of the ball a little bit quicker than he wanted to. I'm not sure exactly what happened on the route."

Monte Poole, San Jose Mercury News:

There were many reasons Oakland trudged into the night unsatisfied, none more significant than Martin's dominating display. He spent the day bashing and slashing and racing through a Raiders defense that entered the game thinking it had solved the riddle of stopping the run.

Don Banks, SI.com:

As good as (Adrian) Peterson's game was, he wasn't even the best running back playing on the West Coast on Sunday. That would be Tampa Bay rookie Doug Martin, who looks like he'll make All-World after his two recent monster performances. … Combined with his 135-yard rushing, 79-yard receiving game in the Bucs' win at Minnesota a week ago Thursday, the league has a new rushing star on its hands.

Pat Yasinskas, ESPN.com NFC South blogger:

Don't look now, but the Bucs are suddenly 4-4 and somewhat in playoff contention and you can see this is a team that's very much on the upswing. Oakland and Minnesota may not be dominant teams, but the Bucs went up to Minnesota in a short week and won in a hostile environment. Then, they flew cross-country and got a win at Oakland, even if the Bucs came very close to squandering what was a 28-10 lead before Oakland rallied in the fourth quarter. When you're a young team like the Bucs, showing you can win on the road, even if it's not particularly pretty, is a very positive sign.

By Stephen F. Holder, Times Staff Writer
Sunday, November 4, 2012

The attrition along the Bucs' offensive line, which lost Pro Bowl guards Davin Joseph (before the season) and Carl Nicks (last week) to season-ending injuries, has been significant. • But you wouldn't have known it Sunday. • After a few hiccups early that had QB Josh Freeman on the run, the makeshift line rebounded. • The Bucs opted for a starting lineup that included Ted Larsen at center and Jeremy Zuttah at left guard, where Nicks would have been. Zuttah's past success playing left guard led to the decision. And once he settled down, Zuttah made the decision appear wise. • “Any time you change positions, you have to get readjusted and get comfortable again," said Zuttah, who moved from center. "It takes time. But you just have to do it. There are a couple things I do well at guard, and we ran more of those plays in the second half." • The line's play was significant in the performance of RB Doug Martin, who rewrote the team record book. • “It's always hard when you lose a player, especially a Pro Bowl-caliber player (like Nicks)," Freeman said. "But (Larsen) at center and Zuttah at guard … we've won a lot of games with both of those playing. They know how to play and go out and get the job done. So there's no doubt in my mind."

Ahmad Black did a little of everything. If the safety wasn't making a tackle on a fake punt in the second quarter, he was recovering an onside kick in the fourth and making a game-clinching interception late. • It was an all-purpose kind of day for a player who is a key special teamer and a contributor on defense. • "Special teams is huge," the former Gator and Lakeland native said. "But I did that a lot in college. If you aren't playing special teams at Florida, then you aren't playing." • On the fake punt, P Shane Lechler passed to RB Taiwan Jones. But Black corralled Jones after a 6-yard gain, 7 shy of the first down. On the onside kick (after Oakland cut its deficit to 35-24) , Black saw something was amiss. • "They switched up some things. They had their fast guys over there and different guys over here. Something was up."

. The good news for the Bucs defense: It allowed just 22 rushing yards. The not-so-good news: the Raiders' 414 passing yards off Carson Palmer's 61 attempts.

It was not a pretty day in the secondary. CB E.J. Biggers was targeted throughout. Backup CB Myron Lewis played sparingly, and when rookie Leonard Johnson was shaken up, he promptly gave up a touchdown pass. Veteran Eric Wright was flagged for pass interference on a fourth down, preserving a Raiders drive capped by a late touchdown.

And with CB Aqib Talib now property of the Patriots after Thursday's trade, it's a lineup the Bucs are going to have to make the best of.

"There is no excuse," Biggers said. "We have to play until the clock says zero no matter how many times we have to cover. They're going to make plays. But we have to do our jobs and deny our man the ball. (The Raiders) made some plays. They have a great quarterback and some great players at receiver."

S Ronde Barber, in his 16th season, has seen it all. But even he said the 61 passes stressed a secondary with little depth.

"It's been a long time since I've been in a game with that many passes thrown," he said. "You just have to keep competing, and it's tough."

When a team throws that many passes, the opportunities for defensive plays are plenty. And the Bucs made enough to escape with a win. They intercepted Palmer three times, twice in the final three minutes.

And after struggling for much of the day, Biggers came away with the clincher with 1:43 left.

"This team, the coaches, they expect me to make plays when they come my way," Biggers said. "But at the end of the day, it's a team game and a team win. Guys are going to make plays if we keep fighting."

Johnson, undrafted out of Iowa State and a native of Clearwater, had his second straight strong performance. He got his second interception, jumping a route in the third quarter when the pass rush closed in and caused a hot throw by Palmer to WR Denarius Moore.

Times wires
Sunday, November 4, 2012

ATLANTA — Michael Turner finally found room to run in the second half. It was just in time for the NFL's last unbeaten team.

Turner had a tiebreaking 3-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter, Matt Bryant hit four field goals and the Falcons beat the Cowboys 19-13 Sunday night to keep their perfect mark.

Turner had 20 carries for 102 yards and Matt Ryan had a season-high 342 yards passing for the 8-0 Falcons, who took their first lead with 14:16 left.

Tony Romo completed 6 of 6 passes for 78 yards, including a 21-yard score to Kevin Ogletree, on the Cowboys' touchdown drive later in the fourth.

The Falcons then worked the clock, holding the ball for 5:04 and leaving only 17 seconds after Bryant's 32-yard field goal.

The Cowboys burned all of their timeouts as Ryan kept the Falcons offense on the field in the crucial time-consuming drive. Ryan passed to Jacquizz Rodgers for 31 yards and 11 yards on third-down plays. A defensive holding call against cornerback Orlando Scandrick on another third down prolonged the drive.

Finally, the Cowboys stopped Turner on a third-down run at the Dallas 14.

Romo never tried a deep pass, though he had only 17 seconds to cover 80 yards. He hit Felix Jones on a last-ditch pass but the running back was stopped at the Atlanta 22 to end the game.

Romo was 25-of-35 for 321 yards and one touchdown. Ryan was 24-for-34 for Atlanta, which has won its four home games by a combined 17 points.

Miles Austin had seven catches for 76 yards for Dallas, which has lost four of its past five.

For three quarters, it was a kicking contest — and a pretty shaky one, too.

Bryant hit field goals of 45 and 46 yards in the second quarter for Atlanta's only points before Turner's TD. Bryant also missed from 43 and 37 yards, wide right each time. Dan Bailey's field goals from 23 and 32 yards were the Cowboys' only points in the first half. He missed from 54.

Ryan was sacked three times and faced constant pressure.

Ryan's 48-yard pass to Julio Jones set up Bryant's 36-yard field goal in the fourth quarter, pushing the lead to 16-6.

Dallas nose tackle Jay Ratliff suffered an apparent left leg injury late in the first half but returned. Falcons defensive tackle Peria Jerry left in the second quarter with a knee injury and did not return.

Stephen F. Holder, Times staff writer
Monday, November 5, 2012

Digging Doug's big day

Doug Martin had a big day. You could tell by the smile the rookie out of Boise State wore as he left the field after setting franchise records for one game with 251 rushing yards and four rushing touchdowns. But he was hardly the only one who got a kick out of it.

In the Bucs' celebratory locker room, teammates buzzed about the league's third-leading rusher (behind the Vikings' Adrian Peterson and Seahawks' Marshawn Lynch) and his historic performance. Some actually attempted to put Martin's feats into words.

• WR Mike Williams: "On his (70-yard) run, he had just broken one, (the Raiders) went down and scored, and then he came right out and broke another one. So I'm blocking down the field, and I see Doug shoot out, and I'm trying to chase my man to block him. But Doug was gone. I told Vincent (Jackson), I was just laughing the whole way down the field."

• DT Gary Gibson: "That was like some high school stuff. It was amazing. Every time you looked up, he was in the end zone."

• LG Jeremy Zuttah: "We're so excited to see what he's going to grow into and become. He's going to keep building on this. And he makes our job easier. He gets a little crease, and he's just gone."

• DE Michael Bennett: "Pro Bowl. Period. Pro Bowl."

• QB Josh Freeman: "It's not only running the ball. There were a number of times where there might be blitzes coming and he just flat-out blew them up."

Jackson beats deep zone

The Raiders clearly heeded the big passing plays the Bucs had in recent weeks. They began the game playing a deep Cover 2 zone, designed to prevent the Bucs receivers from going deep.

But WR Vincent Jackson beat double coverage, making Tampa Bay's longest completion of the game with a 64-yard catch from Josh Freeman in the second quarter.

"It was just a double move," Jackson said. "It was third and (15). So whether we took a shot or complete it, we were backed up and we would have punted it. But Coach (Greg Schiano) believes in us, believes in Josh's arm. I gave the safety a good move, and both the safety and the corner bit on it. And Josh gave me a chance."

Jackson was called for taunting after the play but wasn't certain what he did to warrant the call.

No matter. Jackson made up for the indiscretion with a 20-yard touchdown reception three plays later, the Bucs' first score of the game.

The deep balls the Bucs have connected on in recent weeks actually loomed large Sunday, although the Bucs had fewer big plays in the passing game. Jackson explained why.

"They were trying to take away the deep balls, playing Cover 2 with the safeties real high," he said. "So you know what? In the second half, we tried to run the ball. And when we get them in that kind of a defense, it's a win for us. We block our guys, Doug (Martin) has a great day and it was awesome."

Freeman: My bad

The play could have changed the outcome. With the Bucs looking to put the game away, guarding a 35-24 lead, driving and at the Raiders 27 midway through the fourth quarter, QB Josh Freeman botched a handoff to LeGarrette Blount, putting it high into the running back's chest. Raiders DT Richard Seymour recovered.

Freeman took full blame.

"(The ball) was kind of slick," he said. "I thought I'd completely secured it, but it was a great job by LeGarrette almost getting it back. That's one thing we can't have. It brings the crowd back into it and gives them momentum."

The Raiders scored a touchdown with 3:51 left to cut it to 35-32, making things dicey until S Ahmad Black's interception and Doug Martin's last touchdown.

Freeman more than offset his one miscue. He finished with 247 yards on 18-of-30 passing and a quarterback rating of 108.6. It was Freeman's fourth consecutive game with a rating above 100.

Freeman threw two touchdowns and avoided an interception for the third straight game. That gives him 11 touchdowns and one interception over his past four games.

Quick hits

• One game after his team record of 25 consecutive field goals made ended, Connor Barth had two more misses. A 35-yarder in the first quarter was blocked, and a 54-yarder on the last play of the first half hooked wide left.

• Josh Freeman's 247 passing yards jumped him over Super Bowl winner Brad Johnson for fourth in Bucs history at 10,945. Freeman trails only Vinny Testaverde (14,820), Trent Dilfer (12,969) and Doug Williams (12,648).

• CB Leonard Johnson, a former Largo High star, recorded his second interception of the season in the third quarter.

• LB Levonte David's two tackles-for-loss give him a team-leading 11, two ahead of LB Mason Foster.

• DE Michael Bennett registered his team-leading sixth sack in the second quarter.

• Roscoe Parrish had punt returns of 20 and 26 yards.

• Tampa Bay held Oakland to 22 rushing yards (on just 11 carries) and knocked Darren McFadden and Mike Goodson out of the game.

New line passes first test

The attrition along the Bucs' offensive line, which lost Pro Bowl guards Davin Joseph (before the season) and Carl Nicks (last week) to season-ending injuries, has been significant. • But you wouldn't have known it Sunday. • After a few hiccups early that had QB Josh Freeman on the run, the makeshift line rebounded. • The Bucs opted for a starting lineup that included Ted Larsen at center and Jeremy Zuttah at left guard, where Nicks would have been. Zuttah's past success playing left guard led to the decision. And once he settled down, Zuttah made the decision appear wise. • "Any time you change positions, you have to get readjusted and get comfortable again," said Zuttah, who moved from center. "It takes time. But you just have to do it. There are a couple things I do well at guard, and we ran more of those plays in the second half." • The line's play was significant in the performance of RB Doug Martin, who rewrote the team record book. • "It's always hard when you lose a player, especially a Pro Bowl-caliber player (like Nicks)," Freeman said. "But (Larsen) at center and Zuttah at guard … we've won a lot of games with both of those playing. They know how to play and go out and get the job done. So there's no doubt in my mind."

Safety makes three big plays

Ahmad Black did a little of everything. If the safety wasn't making a tackle on a fake punt in the second quarter, he was recovering an onside kick in the fourth and making a game-clinching interception late. • It was an all-purpose kind of day for a player who is a key special teamer and a contributor on defense. • "Special teams is huge," the former Gator and Lakeland native said. "But I did that a lot in college. If you aren't playing special teams at Florida, then you aren't playing." • On the fake punt, P Shane Lechler passed to RB Taiwan Jones. But Black corralled Jones after a 6-yard gain, 7 shy of the first down. On the onside kick (after Oakland cut its deficit to 35-24) , Black saw something was amiss. • "They switched up some things. They had their fast guys over there and different guys over here. Something was up."

Secondary still a primary concern

The good news for the Bucs defense: It allowed just 22 rushing yards. The not-so-good news: the Raiders' 414 passing yards off Carson Palmer's 61 attempts.

It was not a pretty day in the secondary. CB E.J. Biggers was targeted throughout. Backup CB Myron Lewis played sparingly, and when rookie Leonard Johnson was shaken up, he promptly gave up a touchdown pass. Veteran Eric Wright was flagged for pass interference on a fourth down, preserving a Raiders drive capped by a late touchdown.

And with CB Aqib Talib now property of the Patriots after Thursday's trade, it's a lineup the Bucs are going to have to make the best of.

"There is no excuse," Biggers said. "We have to play until the clock says zero no matter how many times we have to cover. They're going to make plays. But we have to do our jobs and deny our man the ball. (The Raiders) made some plays. They have a great quarterback and some great players at receiver."

S Ronde Barber, in his 16th season, has seen it all. But even he said the 61 passes stressed a secondary with little depth.

"It's been a long time since I've been in a game with that many passes thrown," he said. "You just have to keep competing, and it's tough."

When a team throws that many passes, the opportunities for defensive plays are plenty. And the Bucs made enough to escape with a win. They intercepted Palmer three times, twice in the final three minutes.

And after struggling for much of the day, Biggers came away with the clincher with 1:43 left.

"This team, the coaches, they expect me to make plays when they come my way," Biggers said. "But at the end of the day, it's a team game and a team win. Guys are going to make plays if we keep fighting."

Johnson, undrafted out of Iowa State and a native of Clearwater, had his second straight strong performance. He got his second interception, jumping a route in the third quarter when the pass rush closed in and caused a hot throw by Palmer to WR Denarius Moore.

By Marc Topkin, Times Staff Writer
Monday, November 5, 2012

The Tampa Bay Rays and free-agent RHP Joel Peralta have agreed to terms on a new contract.

Details are not yet available. There were Twitter reports out of the Dominican Republic this morning that they had agreed on a two-year deal for $6-million, with a $2.5-million option for 2015.

Peralta, who turns 37 in March, has been the Rays primary set up man the past two seasons, working 71 games in 2011 and 76 in 2012. Last season he was 2-6 with two saves and a 3.63 ERA. He also was suspended eight games when umpires found excessive pine tar in his glove during a June game in Washington.

Peralta said at the end of the season he wanted very much to return to the Rays.

Resigning Peralta keeps intact the Rays late-inning combo as they already picked up the option on closer RHP Fernando Rodney. LHP Jake McGee is also set to return; LHP J.P. Howell and RHP Kyle Farnsworth are free agents.

By Joe Smith, Times Staff Writer
Monday, November 5, 2012

TAMPA — Bucs RT Demar Dotson heard the naysayers, those doubting that the offensive line could handle the loss of injured All-Pro guards Carl Nicks and Davin Joseph.

But the unit more than held its own Sunday against the Raiders, as Tampa Bay racked up 515 yards of total offense, including a record 251 rushing by RB Doug Martin. It took a little while for the line to mesh, with Jeremy Zuttah moving from center to left guard and backup G Ted Larsen starting at center, but they kept Oakland in check.

"I think guys started to settle down and get more comfortable," Dotson said. "And we started gelling as a unit. We knew that we were going to go out there and fight. They've got a good front seven, especially a good front four, we knew it'd be a dogfight from start to finish. We were up for the challenge. We knew we weren't going to get punked out."

Coach Greg Schiano said the line wasn't completely where it needed to be, but he was "happy with how they battled and fought." QB Josh Freeman was sacked once in the first game without Nicks (toe), who was put on injured reserve last week. Joseph suffered a season-ending knee injury in the preseason.

"Nobody is going to give us a chance," Dotson said. "You read stuff in the media about 'patched-up linemen' and all that crazy stuff," Dotson said. "It makes you want to go out and show all the naysayers that say you can't do it. That's who we are, we've got a bunch of guys that are hard workers and want to show everybody that we can get the job done."

ON THE MARK: Lost in Martin's big day was the continued strong play by Freeman, who was 18-for-30 for 247 yards and two touchdowns. Schiano has been impressed with how Freeman has taken care of the ball. In Freeman's past four games, he has thrown for 11 touchdowns and one interception.

"Overall, I think he's moving and operating the offense the way we want him to," Schiano said. "And he's doing the most critical thing, that's taking care of the football. If you do that, you're going to have a chance to win every week."

HIGH PRAISE: Martin isn't the only rookie making a huge impact. LB Lavonte David and S Mark Barron have smoothly stepped into starting roles, with David the team's leading tackler (67) and Barron third (48).

"I think what Lavonte has done has been very consistent from Game 1 all the way through Game 8," Schiano said. "He's made plays every week. … He's playing at a high level, certainly playing un-rookie like."

PASSING FANCY: The Bucs continue to struggle with pass defense, which ranks last in the league at 321 yards per game, including 402 in Oakland.

It won't get any easier with Chargers QB Philip Rivers coming to Tampa on Sunday.

"It's not just any one person, not any one thing, we just need to get better,' Schiano said. "We'll work very hard at that this week with Philip Rivers coming to town, that's going to be a challenge. We need to get it fixed in a hurry."

Schiano praised three key interceptions by the Bucs on Sunday. Rookie CB Leonard Johnson had a pick, his second in two games. "The more playing time you get, the more confident you become," he said. "That comes with experience."

tv update: The Bucs said they need to sell just under 9,000 tickets by 1 p.m. Thursday to avoid a local TV blackout for Sunday's game.

Joe Smith can be reached at joesmith@tampabay.com.

By Greg Auman, Times Staff Writer
Monday, November 5, 2012

USF men's basketball Coach: Stan Heath | Last season: 22-14

Player Position Height Weight Class

0Martino Brock G 6-5 205 Jr.

1Musa Abdul-Aleem G 6-5 221 So.

2Victor Rudd F 6-9 229 RJr.

3Zach LeDay F 6-7 223 Fr.

5Jawanza Poland G 6-4 204 Sr.

10Mike McCloskey G 6-0 164 Sr.

11Anthony Collins G 6-1 175 So.

15 Shemiye McLendon* G 6-3 Jr.

22 Shaun Noriega G 6-4 207 Sr.

23 Javontae Hawkins G 6-5 202 Fr.

32 Toarlyn Fitzpatrick F 6-81/2 245 Sr.

33 Kore White F 6-8 241 RSr.

35 Jordan Omogbehin C 7-3 334 RFr.

*sitting out season as transfer from Hofstra

.

Player Position Height Weight Class

USF women's basketball

Coach: XXX

Last season: XXX

Notable: XXXX

Roster

No. Player Ht. Cl. Pos.

XXXX

XXXX

Schedule

XXX XXX

XXX XXX

By Greg Auman, Times Staff Writer
Monday, November 5, 2012

USF men's schedule

Saturday vs. UCF, 7

Nov. 16 vs Md.-E. Shore, 7:30

Nov. 17 vs. Loyola-Chi., 7:30

Nov. 18 vs. W. Michigan, 3

Nov. 20 vs. Bradley, 7:30

Nov. 26 at Stetson, 7

Nov. 30 vs. Georgia, 7

Dec. 5 at Okla. St., 9

Dec. 18 vs. Youngstown St., 7

Dec. 21 vs. Bowling Green, 7

Dec. 29 vs. George Mason, 7

Jan. 2 at UCF, 8

Jan. 6 vs. Syracuse, noon

Jan. 9 vs. Villanova, 8

Jan. 12 at Louisville, 4

Jan. 17 at Rutgers, 9

Jan. 19 vs. Georgetown, 6

Jan. 23 at Seton Hall, 7

Jan. 26 vs. Notre Dame, noon

Jan. 28 at Marquette, 9

Feb. 3 at Connecticut, 2

Feb. 6 vs. Marquette, TBA

Feb. 9 at Villanova, 3

Feb. 13 vs. Providence, 9

Feb. 17 vs. Louisville, 1

Feb. 20 at St. John's, 7

Feb. 27 at Pittsburgh, 7

March 3 vs. DePaul, 2

March 6 vs. Connecticut, 9

March 9 at Cincinnati, 4

By Greg Auman, Times Staff Writer
Monday, November 5, 2012

USF women's basketball

Coach: Jose Fernandez (189-184, 13th season)

Last season: 19-16, 8-8 Big East (ninth place)

Notable: Fernandez has been to the Women's NIT perhaps too often — seven times in the past nine seasons, including last year. He has a lineup that should put him in position for a better postseason as the Bulls seek their second-ever NCAA Tournament appearance, with twin guards Andrea and Andrell Smith among eight seniors on the roster. Andrea missed last season recovering from a torn ACL after leading the Bulls with 16.5 points per game in 2010-11, and the Bulls now have two deadly perimeter shooters in Smith and last year's leading scorer, Inga Orekhova (13 ppg). The Bulls have their best depth, with talented freshmen pushing the seniors for playing time. USF's return to the renovated Sun Dome has strong home bookends to the Big East schedule, opening with defending national runner-up Notre Dame and finishing with preseason No. 2 Connecticut.

Schedule

Saturday vs. Stetson, 2

Nov. 13 at Clemson, 7

Nov. 20 vs. Bradley, 5

Nov. 23 vs. North Dakota, 7

Nov. 28 at UNC-Asheville, 7.

Dec. 1 vs. North Florida, TBA

Dec. 5 vs. Florida Gulf Coast, 7

Dec. 8 at Jacksonville, 1;

Dec. 16 vs. Nebraska, 2

Dec. 21 vs. Nevada (in Cancun), 1

Dec. 22 vs. Creighton

(in Cancun), 3:30

Dec. 29 vs. Florida A&M, 2

Dec. 31 vs. Detroit-Mercy 2.

Jan. 8 vs. Notre Dame, 7

Jan. 12 at DePaul, 8

Jan. 15 vs. Cincinnati, 7

Jan. 19 at Villanova, 2

Jan. 22 at Seton Hall, 7

Jan. 26 vs. Marquette, 6

Jan. 30 vs. Louisville, 7

Feb. 3 at Pittsburgh, 1

Feb. 9 at Providence 2

Feb. 12 vs. St. John's, 7

Feb. 16 vs. Seton Hall, 7

Feb. 20 at Louisville, 7

Feb. 23 vs. Syracuse, 2

Feb. 26 at Rutgers, 7:30.

March 2 vs. Connecticut, noon

March 4 at Georgetown, 8.

By Greg Auman, Times Staff Writer
Monday, November 5, 2012

TAMPA -— Ask 6-foot-8 senior Toarlyn Fitzpatrick about the challenge of stepping inside as USF's starting center this season, about his team's limited number of post players, and he doesn't so much as blink, remembering being pressed into a big role as an undersized freshman and handling himself just fine.

"I had no idea what I was doing out there. I was thrown to the wolves," said Fitzpatrick, who started 22 games that year. "We've been there before. We've overcome adversity time and time again. I think we have a tough group, and we'll be able to overcome it. It's no big deal."

The big deal is that USF trying to return to the NCAA Tournament — say that again, just for emphasis — after going 12-6 in the Big East and winning 22 games, including two in its first trip to the NCAAs in 20 years. There's a buzz around Bulls basketball, combining last year's success with a return to the Sun Dome after a $35 million renovation, and Fitzpatrick can't wait to see how USF can handle the novelty of such high expectations.

"I've been on the good teams and bad teams. Coach (Stan Heath) is expecting a lot from me," the King graduate said. "I'm just excited to show more of a leadership role, to take the younger guys under my wing and show them what things to do and what not to do to help our team win."

Point guard Anthony Collins is ready to build on a strong freshman debut, and Fitzpatrick hopes to become the vocal front-line leader that Ron Anderson was last year, keying the stifling defense that set a Big East record for fewest points allowed. USF will have a smaller, faster lineup that should be much stronger on the offensive end, with new perimeter shooting threats like freshman JaVontae Hawkins and sophomore Musa Abdul-Aleem, as well as returning shooters like seniors Shaun Noriega and Jawanza Poland.

Fitzpatrick won't be alone inside: 6-foot-9 junior Victor Rudd, who emerged as the team's top scorer down the stretch last season, will see more time as a power forward, and Heath added a graduate transfer in Florida Atlantic's 6-8 Kore White, who will provide depth along with 6-7 freshman Zach LeDay and, in small bursts, 7-foot-3 redshirt freshman Jordan Omogbehin.

Heath will shift to an uptempo pace, using his team's speed and athleticism to offset the lack of size inside, but after grinding out low-scoring wins last season, he's looking forward to fielding a more offensive-minded team without forgetting its core defensive identity.

"It's the most different team I've ever coached," Heath said. "We don't necessarily have true low-post players. All of our guys with size like to gravitate to the outside. I'm not going to change a Toarlyn Fitzpatrick, who was my leading 3-point shooter, percentage-wise, last year. I'm going to let him shoot, and let the other team that has those 7-foot, 6-foot-10 guys chase him outside. We're going to open up that basket, be more of a driving team, more of a team that I think can shoot a lot better from the 3-point line."

USF will be hard-pressed to match that 12-6 Big East mark, with a schedule that has two games each with Louisville, Marquette, Connecticut and Villanova, but Heath has learned from last season and won't put a ceiling on his team's upside. This is a team proud of reaching the NCAA Tournament, but also one that knows how close it was to reaching its first Sweet 16 as well, and is motivated as a result.

"We want to challenge the very top of the league," Heath said. "That includes challenging for a championship, whether it's the regular season, the conference tournament or both. … We certainly have our eyes set on some lofty goals."

Schedule

XXX XXXX

XXX XXXX

By Antonya English, Times Staff Writer
Monday, November 5, 2012

GAINESVILLE — Just because the SEC season is over, don't expect the Gators to approach the final two home games against Louisiana-Lafayette and Jacksonville State any differently than they have the previous nine games. There's too much at stake.

The Gators are No. 7 in both the AP and USA Today Coaches polls, with an 8-1 record and No. 6 spot in the BCS standings. They want to finish undefeated at home and have their starters sharp when they play at Florida State on Nov. 24.

Coach Will Muschamp said the Gators will continue to focus on each opponent as it comes and won't be using the next two weeks strictly as a tuneup for FSU. All the focus this week is on Louisiana.

"This is a good football team coming in here," Muschamp said. "Having recruited in the state of Louisiana, where most of their players are from and south Mississippi, they've got really good skilled people who can run and play. The offense that they have creates issues for us defensively. If you look at the numbers they're putting up, our total concentration is on them completely."

NO CONTROL: Florida's hopes of making it to Atlanta for the SEC title game rest on the very, very slim chance that struggling Auburn (2-7, 0-6) will defeat Georgia (8-1, 6-1) on Saturday. The Gators said it's tough to have their fate rest in someone else's hands, which is why they will focus on themselves.

"We're Gator fans, we're definitely going to watch the game like we did last week," QB Jeff Driskel said. "But you've got to worry about what you can control."

DB Jaylen Watkins said the Gators' season doesn't end if Georgia wins.

"If it happens, it happens, but we've still got a lot to play for," he said. "I wouldn't say we're any fan of any other SEC team, but it would be nice to see them (Auburn) get a win."

NUMBERS DON'T MATTER: During a preseason meeting with the media, senior RB Mike Gillislee said he'd like to rush for 1,500 yards and 24 touchdowns. He most likely won't hit the 1,500 mark, but Gillislee does have a chance to become Florida's first 1,000-yard rusher since Ciatrick Fason in 2004 (1,267). He currently has 797 yards.

Gillislee said Monday he was injured last week when he was hit in the lower back but feels fine for Saturday's game. As for accomplishing those lofty goals, Gillislee said, "I'm just focusing on finishing the season."

STURGIS STILL IN HUNT: Florida senior Caleb Sturgis is a semifinalist for the Lou Groza Award for the nation's best kicker for the third consecutive season. Sturgis was a finalist for the award last season and a semifinalist in 2009. He leads the Gators in scoring with 68 points and is 15-for-18 in field goals, including 3-for-3 from 50-plus yards, and 23-for-24 in PAT's.

INJURY UPDATE: RB Mack Brown (ankle) is questionable this week. WR/KR Andre Debose (knee), Sturgis (ankle), OL Xavier Nixon (knee), OL James Wilson (knee) and OL Jon Halapio (ankle) did not practice Monday but are probable for the game.

MANN OUT: DL Jafar Mann has decided to transfer. "He and I talked and agreed it was time for him to move on," Muschamp said.

NCAA BOUND: After winning both the SEC regular-season and tournament titles over the past week, the Florida women's soccer team (17-4-1) earned a No. 2 seed in the NCAA Tournament and will host Florida Gulf Coast in the first round at 3 p.m. Friday.

Antonya English can be reached at english@tampabay.com.

By Dave Walker, Times Correspondent
Monday, November 5, 2012

What's hot: A change of seasons has become obvious, with cool air at night and quickly dropping water temperatures. This time can be tricky, or especially productive. Weather can alter seasonal predictability for fishing trends.

Tips: Spotted sea trout are starting to clump up in potholes adjacent to grass flats and in some residential canals. This is the time of year you can have fun with them. They are relatively easy to catch.

Tactics: On warm days, trout will be on the flats, especially in the afternoon. During mornings, they will be in deeper areas, progressively thickening as the water continues to cool.

Tackle: Soft plastic jigs are deadly on fall trout. As sardines get harder to catch, artificial stuff is the way to go. It really saves time and sometimes is way more productive. For cool-water trout, fish very slowly with light tackle. This will increase the strike-to-score ratio considerably. Weather changes happen quickly this time of year, so check the marine forecast.

Dave Walker charters out of Tampa. Call (813) 310-6531, email captdavewalker@verizon.net or visit snookfish.com.

Times wires
Monday, November 5, 2012

SPOKANE, Wash. — Washington State star receiver Marquess Wilson was suspended Monday for an unspecified violation of team rules and will miss Saturday's game against No. 17 UCLA.

Cougars coach Mike Leach declined to say why Wilson was suspended, although he said the punishment would last at least a week.

The Moscow-Pullman Daily News reported Monday that Wilson stormed out of a team practice early Sunday evening.

Washington State was blown out 49-6 at Utah on Saturday for its sixth straight loss. Afterward, Leach complained that the effort of his players was "bordering on cowardice."

"That could have been a zombie convention," he said of his team's play immediately after the game.

Wilson, a junior, has been the target of Leach's criticism for much of the season and had recently been demoted from his starting position despite leading the team in receiving. Wilson has 52 catches for 813 yards and five touchdowns.

Last season, he caught 82 passes for 1,388 yards and 12 touchdowns.

Leach said Wilson's return was up in the air.

"It would depend on circumstances and we'd have a discussion," Leach said.

NO UPDATE ON KLEIN: Kansas State coach Bill Snyder said he is hopeful injured quarterback Collin Klein will be available for Saturday's game at TCU but offered no details.

The Heisman Trophy candidate was hurt Saturday. Snyder did not discuss the nature or severity of the injury, but all indications pointed toward a possible concussion.

When asked about Klein, Snyder replied: "Seems fine to me." Asked whether he would play against the Horned Frogs, Snyder said: "Hope so."

ARKANSAS: Coach John L. Smith said senior linebacker Terrell Williams, who was arrested and charged with DUI hours after a win against Tulsa over the weekend, is suspended for this week's game at South Carolina. Smith said he is so upset with Williams he doesn't "even want to talk to him."

BOISE ST.: Coach Chris Petersen confirmed that senior nose tackle Mike Atkinson will miss the rest of the season after tearing an ACL Saturday. Atkinson's 37 tackles are fourth on the team, and he has two forced fumbles and one interception return for a touchdown.

CAMPBELL: Coach Dale Steele was fired amid a seven-game losing streak. The school said the firing will be effective at the end of the season, and Steele will coach the Camels' final two games.

KENTUCKY: Fired coach Joker Phillips will be on the sidelines for the final two regular-season games. Phillips was let go Sunday effective at the end of the season.

MARYLAND: Middle linebacker Demetrius Hartsfield is out for the season with a torn ACL. The Terrapins have already lost four quarterbacks and starting wide receiver Marcus Leak for the year.

NEBRASKA: Coach Bo Pelini said Rex Burkhead's status for this week's game against Penn State is unclear. The All-Big Ten running back has missed all or part of seven games because of an injury to his left knee.

TENNESSEE: Coach Derek Dooley said he plans to take a more active role in the defense as the Volunteers attempt to upgrade a unit that has allowed the most points and yards per game of any SEC team.

SOCCER: The Florida State women earned one of four No. 1 seeds in the NCAA Tournament and will open Friday in Tallahassee against Mississippi Valley State. USF did not earn an at-large bid.

Monday, November 5, 2012

TAMPA — With starting QB B.J. Daniels expected to be done for the season after breaking a bone in his left leg, USF coach Skip Holtz said that his backup, redshirt freshman Matt Floyd, isn't a sure thing to start against Miami in two weeks, with junior Bobby Eveld competing for the job despite previous plans to redshirt him this season.

"We have not ruled out the possibility of Bobby Eveld playing this year," Holtz said Monday. "Those are our two scholarship quarterbacks we have remaining. … Bobby has gotten an awful lot of reps during the course of the season. Him and Matt have kind of shared some of the duties, because if something were to happen to B.J., we're going to have to play the quarterback that gives us the best chance to win. If that's Bobby Eveld, then we're going to talk about Bobby playing in the Miami game."

With a bye week first, Holtz said he'll have a "spring practice mentality" to open the competition. Floyd won the job in preseason, allowing Eveld to redshirt and have two years after Daniels' graduation. Floyd played in the opening win against Chattanooga and had one play against FSU, getting blindsided and having his fumble returned for a touchdown. He finished Saturday's game, completing 1 of 3 for 3 yards.

INJURY UPDATE: Holtz hopes that some of four other key offensive players who missed the UConn game with injury — guards Mark Popek and Danous Estenor, TE Evan Landi and WR Derrick Hopkins — make a healthy return for Miami.

Holtz said Estenor (ankle) and Popek — out for 21/2 games with an ankle injury — are both a "definite possibility," and Hopkins (knee) could practice next week. Landi (ankle) is doubtful for Miami.

UM: Cain reinstated

CORAL GABLES — After leaving the Hurricanes during their bye week in late October, Kelvin Cain is back with the team.

The backup DE practiced with Miami's scout team Monday for the first since leaving the squad for unspecified reasons.

"It's personal, but he has been reinstated," head coach Al Golden said. "He sorted some things out, so I'm happy for the young man. It's good to see him back out here."

The junior has 11 tackles, including one sack, in seven games this season. Last year, Cain started two games and had 20 total tackles.

Cain's name was deleted from the team's official online roster when the news of his departure broke, but it was back on the list Monday.

"Good for him," defensive coordinator Mark D'Onofrio said. "Hopefully he has got his mind right and he's back and ready to do what we need him to do."

Sun Sentinel

FSU: Ready for change

TALLAHASSEE — Florida State coach Jimbo Fisher knows the end may be near for the staff he currently has in place.

Though he would rather not think about it, Fisher said it will not haunt him. He is well aware some of his assistant coaches may land their own head coaching jobs.

"There's quite a few guys on our staff who can be head coaches in time," Fisher said Monday afternoon.

The most likely assistants to leave FSU if offers arose in the coming months are defensive coordinator Mark Stoops and tight ends coach and offensive coordinator James Coley. Both have been mentioned in connection with head coaching jobs in the past, but, so far, nothing concrete has materialized.

Last offseason, after reportedly being offered by Auburn an annual salary around $1 million, Stoops signed a one-year extension with FSU that paid him an $135,000 on top of his previous yearly salary.

"I don't worry (about Stoops leaving). I hope so," Fisher said. "Change is inevitable. You've got to have a plan for it and where you want to go and what you want to do. I hope he stays forever. As long as I'm here, I want him to be the defensive coordinator, but I also want him to reach his dreams and goals and become what he wants to become as a head coach."

Coley Harvey, Orlando Sentinel

UCF: Game time set

ORLANDO — UCF's key Conference USA game at Tulsa on Nov. 17 was set for a noon start, the Knights announced.

Homefield advantage for the C-USA Championship Game could be on the line in the game between the East and West Division leaders.

Tulsa (7-2, 5-0) is undefeated at home and is second in the conference in scoring offense and first in rushing offense. UCF (7-2, 5-0) has won five straight and has been the conference's best defense, ranking atop C-USA in nearly every defensive category.

The teams have played before in the C-USA championship, both at UCF, with Tulsa winning in 2005 and UCF winning its first title in 2007.

Paul Tenorio, Orlando Sentinel

By Tom Jones, Times Staff Writer
Monday, November 5, 2012

It has only been eight games. You have to keep telling yourself that.

But, gee whiz, it's hard to watch what Bucs running back Doug Martin has done in those eight games and not start making comparisons to every other back in franchise history.

He's stronger than Warrick Dunn. Faster than Mike Alstott. More nimble than Michael Pittman. More dynamic than James Wilder. More explosive than Ricky Bell. A quicker study than Errict Rhett. A better receiver than Cadillac Williams.

He's more exciting than all of them.

Is Martin the best running back this franchise has ever had? Eight games is not enough of a sample size to tell. Does he have a chance to be the best back in franchise history? Those same eight games suggest he's well on his way.

Martin can break big runs. Pound the rock in short yardage. Catch the ball. Pick up blitzes. Play all three downs. Run up the middle. Get to the outside. What, pray tell, can't this guy do?

"He is the second coming of Ray Rice,'' said the NFL Network's Willie McGinest, comparing Martin to the Ravens star who played for Bucs coach Greg Schiano at Rutgers.

Already, Martin is the 20th-leading rusher in franchise history and should be just outside the top 10 by season's end if the second half goes anything like the first.

So halfway through his first season, here's a look back at what Martin has done, what he is doing and what he might do the rest of the way.

What he has done

When Schiano arrived here, he said he wanted a team that could run the ball and take shots down the field. The only way that was going to work was if he had a running back who could pound the ball.

Over the past month, no offense in football has been more potent than the Bucs, and it starts with Martin. In the past four games, Martin has rushed for 76, 85, 135 and 251 yards.

Not so coincidentally, quarterback Josh Freeman has had, perhaps, the best four-game stretch of his career, throwing for more than 1,200 yards with 11 touchdowns and one interception.

What's impressive about Martin is how quickly he has adjusted to the pro game. Schiano says that Martin has learned how to become more patient, waiting for a hole to open up a 40-yard run instead of slamming into a line for a 2-yard gain.

Take Sunday's game, when Martin ripped off runs of 45, 67 and 70 yards. He ran for 251 yards and four TDs in what might have been the best individual performance in Bucs history.

He was so good that even the Raiders were bragging on him.

"One of their (defensive linemen) gave me a lot of props and he said he doesn't talk to any running backs,'' Martin said. "So I took that to heart.''

What's he doing

What Martin is doing right now is keeping defensive coordinators up past their bedtimes and guzzling Alka-Seltzer.

Imagine the Bucs snapping the ball and Freeman turning around like he's handing off to Martin. If you're playing defense, are you loading up to stop the NFL's third-leading rusher? Or are you so wary of the play-action pass that you're dropping back to play pass defense? Or do you cheat and try to do a little of both?

Whatever you decide, you're probably in trouble. Either Martin is going to carve his way through your defense or a receiver such as Vincent Jackson or Mike Williams is going to be sprinting past your one-on-one coverage.

But none of this works without an elite back.

What he will do the rest of the way

See, this is where the Martin story gets tricky. Let's not forget that Martin is a rookie. Counting eight regular-season games and four preseason games and all those practices, he has already played the equivalent of a college football regular season and he still has eight games left. Plus, he's going up against NFL monsters these days, not young lads from the Mountain West Conference.

"I feel fine,'' Martin insisted Monday. "My body feels great. Just got some treatment on all my nicks and dings you get after every game.''

But Schiano admits he's keeping track of the number of touches Martin is getting, both in games and over the course of the season. In the past two games, Martin has touched the ball 61 times. That's a lot for a back any size.

"We have to make sure he doesn't get too far out of whack as far as reps go,'' Schiano said.

That's why the Bucs will continue sprinkling in LeGarrette Blount. That's why Martin will see less action when games become lopsided. That's why Martin will be spared heavy duty in practice.

"He's a guy who gains strength during games (with) the more touches he gets,'' Schiano said. "Doug is physically trained to be a back who can do that. So now we just got to make sure we don't go too far with that.''

That won't be easy, not when you're trying to win games and not when you have a player this special. You don't need eight games to tell you that.

Times wires
Monday, November 5, 2012

NHL

SIDES TO RESUME labor TALKS TODAY

NEW YORK — The NHL and the players' association stuck to their word and made quick plans to get back to the bargaining table.

After all-day negotiations Saturday, the sides agreed Monday to resume talks today in New York. Both sides said the discussions over the weekend were good, creating some optimism that perhaps a deal could soon be reached to save the already truncated hockey season.

The NHL and union hadn't met since Oct. 18 when each side turned down offers. NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly and players' association special counsel Steve Fehr got together by themselves Saturday in an undisclosed location and held productive talks.

SABRES: Forward Thomas Vanek is returning to North America after completing an 11-game stint playing for his hometown team in Graz, Austria.

SOCCER

Rowdies' Attinella gets monthly NASL honor

Tampa Bay goalkeeper Jeff Attinella, a Countryside High and USF product who led the Rowdies to a penalty shootout victory in the Soccer Bowl on Oct. 27, was named NASL player of the month.

U.S. WOMEN: The team will play three exhibitions against China next month including one in Florida. New coach Tom Sermanni will watch as an observer for the games — Dec. 8 in Detroit, Dec. 12 in Houston and Dec. 15 at FAU Stadium in Boca Raton.

SCOTLAND: Craig Levein was fired as coach after nearly three years. The team, ranked 56th in the world, won just three of 12 competitive matches under him.

CYCLING

Olympic champ in fixing scandal probe

Olympic road race champion Alexandre Vinokourov is under investigation for allegedly bribing a rival to fix a race, as ongoing fallout from the Lance Armstrong doping affair threatens to claim another big name. The International Cycling Union pledged to open its own probe into revived allegations that the London Games gold medalist from Kazakhstan paid off his opponent in a two-man breakaway to ensure he won the 2010 Liege-Bastogne-Liege classic. They got a file on the case from an Italian prosecutor who is leading a wider investigation of corruption linked to Michele Ferrari, a former Armstrong adviser.

TENNIS

Djokovic, Murray start well in ATP group play

Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray won their opening matches at the season-ending ATP finals in London, setting up a showdown between two of the top three players in the world. The top-ranked Djokovic beat Jo-Wilfried Tsonga 7-6 (7-4), 6-3 in Group A and No. 3 Murray rallied to defeat Tomas Berdych 3-6, 6-3, 6-4. Group B, which includes six-time champion Roger Federer, plays today.

ET CETERA

TRACK: Sprint star Usain Bolt, American hurdler Aries Merritt and 800-meter champ David Rudisha, all Olympic gold medalists this year, are the finalists for the IAAF's World Athlete of the Year award.

HORSES: Havre de Grace, the 2011 Horse of the Year, sold for $10 million at the Fasig-Tipton November sale. Mandy Pope of Whisper Hill Farm bought the 5-year-old mare.

OBITUARY: Jim Flick, a golf instructor for more than 50 years who helped Jack Nicklaus and Tom Lehman among others, died Monday of pancreatic cancer, his family said. He was 82. Nicklaus, upon joining the Champions Tour, sought out Flick in 1990 after his longtime coach, Jack Grout, had died.

Times wires

By Joe Smith, Times Staff Writer
Monday, November 5, 2012

TAMPA — Bucs running back Doug Martin smiled as he was surrounded by cameras Monday afternoon. To the humble and soft-spoken rookie, it's still sinking in that he's the toast of the town and talk of the NFL after his historic performance Sunday in a road win over the Raiders.

Martin, who grew up outside of Oakland, racked up a club-record 251 rushing yards in front of 60-plus family and friends at the Coliseum, making for an extra exciting homecoming.

"I couldn't have scripted a better one," said Martin, 22. "It happened perfectly."

To his high school coach, Martin's story is more special because of the inauspicious way it started. Stockton (Calif.) St. Mary's High coach Tony Franks was in the stands Sunday, sitting next to Martin's proud parents, Leslie and Doug in a club-level section with Bucs No. 22 jerseys sprinkled all around.

As Martin etched his name into the record books with highlight-reel runs, Franks couldn't help but reminisce how it felt like just a short time ago the league's newest star was a football newbie. Martin didn't play until his freshman year of high school, having spent most of childhood days shooting hoops or starring in the childhood game of tag — "keep away."

When Martin arrived at St. Mary's, Franks said he had to learn everything about football, from how to put on pads to how to carry the ball. In Martin's first game, he fumbled the opening kickoff.

"Needless to say, he got better," Franks said.

But even after 1,000-yard seasons in his final two years at St. Mary's, the 5-foot-9 Martin wasn't heavily recruited.

He landed at Boise State and played some defensive back early on, and was a good special teams player before eventually getting his shot. He blossomed into a first-round NFL draft pick after piling 43 career rushing touchdowns in college.

"That's why it's such a neat story, it's a story of persistence," Franks said. "It's the biggest question people ask, 'Gee, did you ever think?' Well no, we're dealing with a mystery of human development. Sometimes it comes together perfectly, and sometimes it doesn't. Everything came together for him and he's never looked back."

Martin has immediately become a workhorse back, ranking third in the league in rushing (794 yards) and emerging as a candidate for NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year. NFL Network analyst Daniel Jeremiah predicts a race between Martin, Redskins quarterback Robert Griffin III and Colts quarterback Andrew Luck, the No. 1 overall pick.

"He's as a complete a back as I've seen," ESPN analyst Merril Hoge said of Martin. "He's been rock solid all year. He's gotten better and better, and has been a cornerstone for that offense."

Martin learned about the position in high school by watching YouTube videos of Hall of Famers Barry Sanders and Emmitt Smith, hoping to emulate Sanders' elusiveness and Smith's physical running style. And Hoge said there are some similarities between Martin and Smith, the league's all-time leading rusher, in terms of build and ability to change direction.

Jeremiah, a former NFL scout, said the comparison with Ravens running back Ray Rice is the most fitting, as they can run away from, bounce off of and drive through defenders.

"We've seen it the last couple years, look at Maurice Jones-Drew and Rice, the powerful lower center of gravity (backs) have found a spot in the league," Jeremiah said. "Those three — (Jones-Drew), Ray Rice and Martin — you're talking about powerful little guys."

Martin said that as he has grown more comfortable in the league, the game has slowed for him, giving him the ability to trust his track and hit the hole with decisiveness. He credited the offensive line, and coaches.

"Overall, it's just clicking," he said.

That was especially true Sunday, when Martin became the first NFL player with three rushing touchdowns of 45 yards or more in a game, and he'd sometimes point into the stands to his special fans.

"It was unbelievably exhilarating," Franks said. "It became surreal, like, 'Are you kidding me?' This is our guy."

Times staff, wires
Monday, November 5, 2012

TAMPA — It wasn't anything dominant, but USF's men's basketball team pulled out a 74-65 exhibition win against Division II Eckerd College in the Sun Dome on Monday night, with junior Victor Rudd scoring 14 to lead four Bulls in double figures.

USF has plenty of areas to improve on for Saturday's opener against Central Florida. The Bulls went 3-for-19 on 3-pointers, were outrebounded 42-34 and struggled at the free-throw line, hitting just 57 percent.

"We better shore up that rebounding. We thought we were just going to out-athlete people and just jump and grab them," coach Stan Heath said after the team's first showing in the newly renovated Sun Dome. "That's not going to work, especially with our lack of size. We've got to shore up the free-throw shooting. … I do think we're a much better 3-point shooting team. I know it was absymal (Monday), but that will get better."

Point guard Anthony Collins, limited by a calf injury, played just 22 minutes, getting eight points with four assists offset by three turnovers. Junior Martino Brock was sharp filling in, getting nine assists against zero turnovers, his game spoiled by a 2-for-9 showing at the line. Rudd's 14 points led the way, but USF also got 13 from Toarlyn Fitzpatrick and freshman guard JaVontae Hawkins, who had a personal 8-0 run late in the first half to put the Bulls in control.

"We've got to get a lot better if we're going to compete in the Big East," Fitzpatrick said.

Forward Malcolm Brunner Jr. led the Tritons with 12 points and added 11 rebounds; forward Darrien Mack had 11 and 12.

WHITE LEADS 'NOLES: Junior forward Okaro White, the former Clearwater High standout, had 16 points to help FSU close its exhibition season with a 65-56 win over Saint Leo.

The Seminoles held the Division II Lions to 32.4 percent shooting but also made only 4 of 21 3-pointers and committed 20 turnovers. "We have a ways to go, but we made some improvement this week," coach Leonard Hamilton told the Orlando Sentinel.

The defending ACC champions open the regular season Friday against South Alabama.

CALHOUN IN BOOTH: Former Connecticut coach Jim Calhoun has agreed to make his debut as a radio commentator during the Huskies' season opener against Michigan State in Germany.

The Hall of Fame coach, who retired in September, will provide color Friday alongside Joe D'Ambrosio's play-by-play of the Armed Forces Classic on the UConn Radio Network. The game is scheduled for 6 p.m.

LOUISVILLE: Coach Rick Pitino confirmed that the school lost its waiver appeal with the NCAA over the eligibility of center Mangok Mathiang, forcing the Sudan native to sit out this season.

MARQUETTE: Sophomore guard Todd Mayo, the younger brother of Mavericks guard O.J. Mayo who played in 35 games last season, was declared academically ineligible.

NEBRASKA: Guard Deverell Biggs, a first-team junior college All-America last season, will sit out this season as a redshirt.

WOMEN: Vanderbilt junior center Stephanie Holzer, an honorable mention all-SEC selection the past two seasons, will miss the season after dislocating a knee.

Information from Times wires was used in this report.

Times wires
Monday, November 5, 2012

ASHBURN, Va. — The NFL said Monday that a 30-yard touchdown run by Panthers running back DeAngelo Williams on Sunday against the Redskins should not have counted because of an inadvertent whistle.

The league said the Panthers should have had the ball at the 17-yard line — where line judge Thomas Symonette blew his whistle because he mistakenly thought Williams had stepped out of bounds. Under the rules, Carolina also could have chosen to replay the down at the 30.

Redskins linebacker Perry Riley said he stopped pursuing the play because he heard the whistle. Referee Carl Cheffers said after the game that the officials decided the whistle wasn't blown until Williams reached the end zone and that it didn't affect the outcome. An inadvertent whistle is not reviewable by replay.

Redskins coach Mike Shanahan said the NFL had no choice but to acknowledge the error: "I didn't know it was that bad until I looked at the film," he said. "That was an obvious mistake."

CRENNEL REDUCES DUTIES: Chiefs coach Romeo Crennel relieved himself of duties as defensive coordinator. He had juggled head coaching and coordinator duties since taking over when Todd Haley was fired in December. Gary Gibbs will take over as defensive coordinator. The team also waived cornerback Stanford Routt and signed defensive tackle Shaun Smith.

GOOD NEWS FOR PAGANO: The doctor of Colts coach Chuck Pagano says his leukemia is in remission. Dr. Larry Cripe said Pagano's white blood cell count was normal and his bone marrow showed no indication of the disease. Earlier, interim coach Bruce Arians said the Colts hoped to have Pagano on the sideline for their regular-season finale Dec. 30. Pagano was diagnosed Sept. 26 and has undergone chemotherapy. He gave the team an emotional postgame speech after Sunday's win over Miami.

BRONCOS: Starting guard Chris Kuper has a severe ankle sprain, the Denver Post reported, and his status was unknown.

EAGLES: Defensive lineman Darryl Tapp sat out Monday's game against the Saints because he was with his wife, who was due to deliver the couple's first child.

JAGUARS: Running back Maurice Jones-Drew will miss Thursday night's game against Indianapolis. He's still wearing a walking boot on his sprained left foot.

JETS: Coach Rex Ryan and several of his players are among thousands of New Jersey residents still without power in their homes in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy. Ryan said he recognizes he is in the same situation as many others in the area recovering from the hurricane.

RAIDERS: Running backs Darren McFadden and Mike Goodson both have high ankle sprains that leave their status in doubt. Both were hurt against the Bucs.

VIKINGS: Receiver/returner Percy Harvin was on crutches after injuring his ankle and the former Florida star said he was likely to miss at least one game.

Times wires
Monday, November 5, 2012

NEW ORLEANS — Drew Brees and the Saints picked up a much-needed win. For Michael Vick and the Eagles, more misery.

Brees threw two touchdown passes, extending his NFL record streak to 51 games with at least one, and Patrick Robinson returned an interception 99 yards for a score to lead the Saints to a 28-13 win over the reeling Eagles on Monday night.

New Orleans also got a 22-yard TD run from Chris Ivory, playing for the first time this season.

The Eagles lost their fourth straight, which is sure to keep the heat on Vick and embattled coach Andy Reid. Vick threw a 77-yard touchdown to DeSean Jackson in the third quarter, but that was about the only highlight for the visiting team which saw Vick sacked seven times.

They had their chances. The Eagles had first and goal four times and managed only two field goals by Alex Henery. In fact, they were outscored in those situations, with Robinson going the other way for a touchdown just when it looked like Philadelphia was on the verge of scoring.

Meanwhile, Saints spokesman Greg Bensel said the team had no comment about the possibility of suspended coach Sean Payton becoming a free agent after the season. Payton's agent, Don Yee, did not return a message.

The possibility that the league might void the contract extension that the Saints offered Payton last year, first reported by ESPN, led to speculation that Cowboys owner Jerry Jones might be interested in Payton if he becomes available.

Jones said he has "a lot of faith" in coach Jason Garrett and has no idea if the Saints coach might be available next season. The league suspended Payton for the season for his role in the Saints' bounty scandal.